MANILA: Quezon City police officers rescued 12 women from a spa allegedly “offering extra service” to clients following an entrapment operation on Monday (May 13) night.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said in a report on Tuesday that the Quezon City Business Permits and Licensing Department informed them in a letter about the alleged illegal activities in the spa that supposedly does not only give massage therapy to patrons.
Authorities devised the sting operation in which a police officer pretended to be a customer of the spa located along Mercury Street on Commonwealth Avenue on the night of May 13.
Following a cue, operatives on stand-by entered the establishment around 10.20pm on Monday and rescued the 12 women who are believed to be victims of human trafficking.
Police also arrested two people – the spa owner and cashier – during the operation. They will be charged for violating the Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as amended by RA 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.
The victims were placed under the care of the Quezon City Social Services Development Department pending the filing of complaints against the suspects.
QCPD’s Women and Children Concern Section and Special Operations Unit carried out the entrapment operation. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
